Nighttime lane closures to impact traffic on some of the busiest roads in the Midlands

Drivers traveling at night on some of the most heavily used roads in the Midlands will be affected this week.

That’s because the South Carolina Department of Transportation will be closing lanes on sections of three major interstates in the area known as “Malfunction Junction” to conduct testing for a future construction project that will have an even greater impact on Midlands traffic.

Beginning Sunday evening, portions of I-26, I-126 and I-20 will have lanes closed. The closures are part of SCDOT’s soil testing associated with the upcoming Carolina Crossroads project.

According to the SCDOT, the Carolina Crossroads project is its No. 1 priority, and it will provide a transportation solution to improve mobility and enhance traffic operations by reducing existing traffic congestion within the I-20/26/126 corridor, while accommodating future traffic needs – through 2040.

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Construction on the Carolina Crossroads wouldn’t begin until 2019 at the earliest as many steps must be taken prior to that point, including and environmental impact study. This soil testing is a part of the steps moving forward.

Left, I-26 traffic travels from Columbia, at right traffic travels towards the Bush River Road exit and towards I-126. State transportation officials are looking at two options with slightly different designs to improve traffic flow where I-20 and I-26 meet.

Jeff Blake online@thestate.com

SCDOT has scheduled the lane closures to accommodate the testing to occur following evening commute hours. Additionally, testing is slated to end and the lanes are to be reopened before morning commuters get behind the wheel and hit Midlands interstates on their way to work, school or other travel needs during daylight hours.

The closures are scheduled to run from Sunday through Thursday, with SCDOT closing different increments of the interstates on a daily basis.

Schedule

Day

Route

Approx. Location

Work Start

Work End

Sunday

I-26 Westbound

Piney Grove Exit to approx.. ½ mile west of Harbison Blvd Exit.

8 p.m.

7 a.m.

Sunday

I-26 Eastbound

I-126 Interchange to Saluda River Bridge

6 p.m.

7 a.m.

Monday

I-26 Eastbound

I-126 Interchange to approx. ½ mile west of US 378 Interchange

6 p.m.

7 a.m.

Monday

I-26 Westbound

Approx. ½ mile east of Harbison Blvd. to approx. ½ mile west of Broad River Road